ICAR offers a wide range of tests and certifications for the different types of devices, electronic and conventional ones. Overall, the certification procedure for any type of device starts with the submission of the application by the manufacturer and ends with the publication of the certification on the ICAR website. The various steps can be seen in the flowchart below:
This page contains the instructions for the ICAR certification procedures related to:
- RFID devices – ISO Conformance/Performance test for RFID devices
- RFID devices – Composition and environmental performance for RFID ear tags
- Conventional ear tags – Device Composition and Environmental Performance test for conventional ear tags
- RFID devices or conventional ear tags – Re-certification of RFID devices or conventional ear tags
1 – RFID devices ISO Conformance/Performance test
ICAR is the Registration Authority of ISO for the standards ISO 11784/11785.
Manufacturers of RFID ear tags, leg tags, ruminal boluses, and injectable transponders can apply to ICAR for testing and certifying their products as follows:
Conformance test (ISO 24631-1): This test evaluates the conformance with ISO standards 11784 and 11785, including resonance frequency and bit pattern tests.
A successful test leads to the registration of the device and the allocation of a manufacturer/product code.
After the first successful Conformance test, the shared manufacturer code 900 is granted to the manufacturer. With the 900 code, ICAR allocates a set of one million codes restricted for the exclusive use of the manufacturer.
Performance test (ISO 24631-3): This test evaluates modulation amplitude, bit length stability, minimum activation field strength, resonance frequency, amplitude voltage response (Vss).
This test is not obligatory and does not lead to a certificate, but provides useful information about the performance of the transponder.
You can find the full information in the ICAR Guidelines Section 10:
Application forms
Once you submit the application form, ICAR will provide the instructions for the submission of the samples and the invoice to be paid before the test starts.
The duration of a conformance test is approximately 2-4 weeks, and requested samples are 50. For more information, including costs, please contact the ICAR Secretariat at andie@icar.org.
ICAR’s official communication about the confidentiality of test reports can be found here.
2 – RFID devices – Composition and environmental performance test (full certification)
The Composition and Environmental Performance test evaluates the quality and performance of both the external plastic material and the RFID transponder. It includes mechanical and environmental tests, as well as conformance testing with ISO standards 11784/11785.
The test is carried out in two phases:
- Preliminary Assessment: ear tag design; locking mechanism; application; electronic readability.
- Laboratory test: material characteristics; harmful substances; electronic readability; resistance to artificial ageing, tensile loading, impact of free fall, cold, dry heat, damp heat and cold; typography readability; colour contrast change.
- Note: The reference colour for test samples is yellow. However, manufacturers and/or Competent Authorities are free to request tests for different colours, if they consider it necessary.
You can find the full information in the ICAR Guidelines Section 10:
- Procedure 5: Testing of External RFID Devices
- Appendix C3: Preliminary Test for External RFID Devices
- Appendix C4: Laboratory Test for External RFID Devices
- Application form
Once you submit the application form, ICAR will provide the instructions for the submission of the samples and the invoice to be paid before the test starts. For more information, including costs, please contact the ICAR Secretariat at andie@icar.org.
ICAR’s official communication about the confidentiality of test reports can be found here.
3 – Conventional ear tags – Composition and environmental performance test
The Composition and Environmental Performance test evaluates the quality and performance of the ear tags. It includes evaluation of the ease of application and use, efficiency of animal recognition, durability and tamperproof quality, and animal welfare and human health.
The test is carried out in two phases:
- Preliminary Assessment: ear tag design; locking mechanism; application test.
- Laboratory test: material characteristics; harmful substances; acid/alkaline bath treatment; ageing by damp heat and cold; resistance to artificial ageing; abrasive treatment; typography readability; colour contrast change; machine readability (optional); resistance of locking system.
- Note: The reference colour for test samples is yellow. However, manufacturers and/or Competent Authorities are free to request tests for different colours, if they consider it necessary.
You can find the full information in the ICAR Guidelines Section 10:
- Procedure 4: Testing of Conventional Plastic Ear Tags
- Appendix B4: Preliminary Test for Conventional Plastic Ear Tags
- Appendix B5: Laboratory Test for Conventional Plastic Ear Tags
- Application form
Once you submit the application form, ICAR will provide the instructions for the submission of the samples and the invoice to be paid before the test starts. For more information, including costs, please contact the ICAR Secretariat at andie@icar.org.
ICAR’s official communication about the confidentiality of test reports can be found here.
4 – RFID devices or conventional ear tags – Re-certification
After 5 years from the issuance of an ICAR certificate, the test can be repeated in order for the certification to be renewed for another 5 years (Note: The registration of RFID devices in conformance with ISO 11784/11785 by ICAR is valid for the lifetime of the device. ICAR certification is an additional service and is valid for five years from the last day of issuance). The device maintains its original product/certification code.
The test applied for re-certification is:
- The limited test for RFID devices
- The preliminary assessment for conventional ear tags
The application process is the same as for any other test. Once re-certified, the device remains on the ICAR website for another five years and the latest date of certification is indicated.
Application forms:
Once you submited the application form, ICAR will provide the instructions for the submission of the samples to be tested and the invoice to be paid before the test starts. For more information including costs, please contact the ICAR Secretariat at andie@icar.org.
5 – Fees
| Device type | Test type | ICAR Member | Non ICAR Membrer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conventional | Preliminary assessment | 2.235 € | 2.410 € |
| Conventional | Preliminary assessment – Machine readability | 910 € | 1.085 € |
| Conventional | Laboratory test – without machine readability – without acid/alcaline bath | 13.100 € | 13.490 € |
| Conventional | Laboratory test – with machine readability – without acid/alcaline bath | 13.670 € | 14.060 € |
| Conventional | Laboratory test – without machine readability – with acid/alcaline bath | 14.000 € | 14.390 € |
| Conventional | Laboratory test – with machine readability – with acid/alcaline bath | 14.600 € | 14.990 € |
| Conventional | Laboratory test – acid/alcaline bath | 1.570 € | 1.745 € |
| Conventional | Laboratory test – machine readability | 1.240 € | 1.415 € |
| Conventional | DCN-New product code (laboratory fee based on quotation) | 3.900 € | 4.290 € |
| Conventional | Validation (Preliminary assessment) | 5.485 € | 5.875 € |
| Conventional | Re-certification (Preliminary assessment) | 4.705 € | 5.530 € |
| Electronic transceivers | Conformance synchronizing transceivers | 9.340 € | 9.570 € |
| Electronic transceivers | Extra configuration (transceiver with external attachable antenna) | 3.430 € | 3.660 € |
| Electronic transceivers | Conformance non-synchronizing transceivers | 6.450 € | 6.680 € |
| Electronic | Re-certification (Limited conformance test) | 3.675 € | 4.170 € |
| Electronic | Conformance full test (ISO 24631-1) | 5.580 € | 5.810 € |
| Electronic | Conformance limited test (ISO 24631-1) | 4.220 € | 4.450 € |
| Electronic | Conformance listing update (ISO 24631-1) | 3.580 € | 3.810 € |
| Electronic | Performance full test (ISO 24631-3) | 4.640 € | 4.870 € |
| Electronic | Conformance full test + performance (combined) | 7.340 € | 7.570 € |
| Electronic | Conformance limited test + performance (combined) | 6.170 € | 6.400 € |
| Electronic | Conformance listing update + performance (combined) | 5.700 € | 5.930 € |
| Electronic | Validation (Limited test) | 5.820 € | 6.210 € |
| Electronic-Full certification | Preliminary assessment | 2.270 € | 2.445 € |
| Electronic-Full certification | Preliminary assessment – Machine readability | 910 € | 1.085 € |
| Electronic-Full certification | Laboratory test | 14.800 € | 15.190 € |
| Electronic-Full certification | Laboratory test – without visual readability | 13.730 € | 14.120 € |
| Electronic-Full certification | Laboratory test – machine readability | 1.240 € | 1.415 € |
| Electronic-Full certification | Re-certification fully certified RFID ear tags | 5.825 € | 6.650 € |